Emergency Department physicians at MGH receive prestigious awards for excellence in emergency medicine

Last week, the Toronto Women in Emergency Medicine (TWEM) organization, in affiliation with the University of Toronto, awarded four of Michael Garron Hospital's (MGH) Emergency Department (ED) physicians with multiple prestigious awards. 

TWEM is a GTA-based organization of women and allies in emergency medicine who seek to bring awareness and address mitigation to gender bias and disparity within the emergency medicine community.

Apart from the TWEM Lifetime Achievement Award, nominations are open to everyone. Nominees do not need to identify as women to be eligible for the remaining awards.

Please see below for the list of winners and nominees:

Dr. Kate Lazier

Winner: TWEM Local Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Champion Award

The Local EDI Champion Award is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to EDI initiatives in their hospital/community including achievements in practice, events, applied research, policy, programs or other activities that foster equitable, sustainable and measurable change, especially for those who traditionally have been underrepresented (women, visible/racialized minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+).

Dr. Kate Lazier has been an emergency physician at MGH since 2006. Throughout her time at MGH, Dr. Lazier has made outstanding contributions to EDI initiatives both at the hospital and in the community at large. Dr. Lazier’s commitment to EDI initiatives spans decades. Her portfolio includes but is not limited to: organizing community outreach programs aimed at creating awareness about basic rights for gays and lesbians in the 1980s, supporting women seeking care from the Morgentaler Clinic by serving as an escort between safehouses and the clinic prior to its bombing in the early 1990s and participating as a member of the “Group of Five” and serving as a board member of the Board of the Rainbow Railroad to sponsor and support 2SLGTBQIA+ refugees escaping state-sponsored violence and oppression in the 2000s.

Most recently, Dr. Lazier led the opening of the Rapid Assessment for Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinic at MGH. Through this work, she was a forerunner in the emergency medicine community to assist those struggling with substance use and addictions, homelessness and mental health issues. Dr. Lazier’s leadership and advocacy for underrepresented individuals has been instrumental in creating and supporting a culture of inclusion within the MGH ED group.

Dr. Rajani Vairavanathan

Winner: Excellence Award in the Undergraduate Category for 2022-2023 and TWEM Mentor/Sponsor of the Year Award 

The TWEM Mentor/Sponsor of the Year Award is awarded to a physician who has demonstrated a strong commitment to their colleagues and trainees through mentorship and sponsorship. The recipient has a notable track record of mentoring students, residents and colleagues in their academic and clinical careers, and is a role-model emergency medicine clinician.

In her 18 years as an emergency physician, Dr. Rajani Vairavanathan has consistently shown a clear commitment to trainees and colleagues and has served as a mentor and sponsor to many medical students, residents and early- to mid-career physicians. An impressive clinician, educator, researcher and colleague, Dr. Vairavanathan has made a significant impact on the lives and careers of many in the profession.

Under her supervision and guidance, dozens of residents and students have flourished academically and professionally. What is truly exceptional and powerful about Dr. Vairavanathan’s leadership is that she uses her skills and energy to raise up those around her. She takes the view that everyone can be just as proficient of a clinician as she is if they are given the right opportunities and support. This is evidenced by her creation of a simulation education program for family medicine residents at MGH.

Dr. Lisa Ballinger

Nominated: TWEM Lifetime Achievement Award

The TWEM Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has been a role-model emergency physician and has had a life-long commitment to emergency medicine. The recipient, who has had a lengthy career as a woman in emergency medicine, is recognized for their outstanding contributions and dedicated service to emergency medicine in their hospital/community.

Dr. Ballinger interned at MGH in 1985 and, in 1987, returned to work in the Emergency Department with the wonderful team of nurses and physicians. In addition to her practice in MGH’s ED, Dr. Ballinger also, until recently, ran a successful general practice that included paediatrics, obstetrics and house calls.

Dr. Ballinger is a powerful force in MGH's ED and is respected by her colleagues as a hardworking and experienced physician who is always ready to help out when needed. She is a dedicated teacher of the next generation of physicians, teaching both medical students and residents, while simultaneously acting as an unofficial mentor to many physicians within the ED.

Dr. Ballinger is a lifelong learner herself, taking up skiing at the age of 40. She has combined her newfound passion for skiing with her love for emergency medicine by joining the Canadian Ski Patrol. During most weekends in the winter, she can be found patrolling the mountain and ensuring that injured skiers get the best possible care during their transport from mountain to hospital.

Dr. Angela Marrocco

Winner: Division of EM, Excellence in Emergency Medicine 

This award recognizes excellence in emergency medicine within the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Angela Marrocco has been an emergency physician at MGH since 2007. A tireless advocate for the specialty of emergency medicine and its physicians, Dr. Marrocco has made significant contributions to the development of the profession through her leadership both at the hospital and the provincial level.

At the hospital level, Dr. Marrocco serves as both the MGH ED Business Manager and as Associate Chief Operations. Of particular note, she led and supported the creation of numerous operational teams which helped to transform the MGH ED during the COVID-19 pandemic, culminating in the department achieving a performance ranking as a top-five ED in the province.

At the provincial level, Dr. Marrocco serves as the Ontario Medical Association Section Chair for Emergency Medicine. She is known for her sustained excellence in clinical emergency medicine, teaching and leadership; and as a physician who practices emergency medicine with compassion and selfless dedication. Thanks to her collaborative leadership style, forward- thinking and transparency, Dr. Marrocco has gained the utmost trust of her colleagues as a physician leader.

Dr. Ruchi Mohindra

Winner: Division of EM Excellence in Research/Quality Improvement in Emergency Medicine

This award recognizes excellence in research and/or quality improvement initiatives by faculty within the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Ruchi Mohindra has been an emergency physician at MGH since 2009. During this time, she has been deeply committed to emergency medicine and improving this practice at every level. To the betterment of the lives of her patients and their families, she also strives every day to provide thoughtful and high-quality care in her own practice.

As the inaugural MGH Emergency Department Quality Improvement (QI) Lead and now as Associate Chief Quality Improvement, Dr. Mohindra has taken her passion for QI work to lead transformative change in the MGH ED throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and health system recovery. From implementing rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles around Protected Code Blue, ventilator training and operationalizing resuscitation in resuscitation tents, to co-leading the creation of a dedicated Child and Youth Emergency Zone in the MGH ED and sitting as a member of various hospitals’ QI committees, Dr. Mohindra has been recognized as an organizational leader.

Dr. Mohindra’s efforts have had powerful impacts on how the MGH ED serves and cares for some of the city’s most vulnerable populations. She was instrumental in the MGH ED achieving  consistent performance rankings as a top-five ED in the province.

MGH expresses its heartfelt congratulations to these physicians and acknowledges the amazing efforts of the ED team.

MGH is also remembering and celebrating the remarkable life of Sally Stavro, who passed away last week. In 2007, Sally and her husband Steve established the Stavro ED with a generous gift to the hospital.

The space named in their honour continues to be supported by the Stavro Family Foundation. MGH extends its heart to the Stavro family and shares its gratitude for their shared vision and exceptional contributions to healthcare excellence in East Toronto.